Flake says bipartisan DACA bill to be brought to Senate floor in January

By KTAR.com | December 20, 2017 at 12:24 pmUPDATED: December 20, 2017 at 2:56 pm

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said he received a commitment from Senate leaders that a bipartisan bill for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients will be brought to the floor next month.

The announcement was made in a statement on Wednesday, shortly before the House passed a Republican tax reform bill — the biggest effort in three decades — for the second time in two days.

Flake was reportedly hesitant about voting for the bill, but was apparently swayed after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “committed to bring the bipartisan DACA bill” to the floor in January.

“While I would have written a much different bill, this bill lowers the corporate tax rate in a manner that makes us globally competitive,” Flake said.

“I am also pleased that the majority leader has committed to bring the bipartisan DACA bill we are currently negotiating to the Senate floor in January.”

McConnell confirmed Flake’s statement on Monday, saying “if negotiators reach an agreement on [DACA] by the end of January, I will bring it to the Senate floor.”

McConnell confirms what @JeffFlake has been saying: If a bipartisan agreement is reached on DACA he'll "bring it to the Senate floor for a free-standing vote." pic.twitter.com/AlaenFpRy9